Check valve operating device



. My 21, 1935. E. 1.. ROWE ET AL 2,001,941

\ CHECK VALVE OPERATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ELL/5 L Fol W5 STANLEY 73421 OR 47- TORNE rs May 21, 1935. E L. ROWE ET AL 7 CHECK VALVE OPERATING DEVICE FiledSept. 14, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w f a //v MEN T023 ZZLL [5 i I Fan/E ETA/W325? 71 1x5012 May 21, 1935. E. ROWE ET AL CHECK VALVE OPERATING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F iled Sept. 14, 1934 //v1/4-'/v 7-0173- ELLJE Z I Fan/E STANLEY 714221 01?.

. z 2% 6 6 w j a a n w 1 w 8, 7 4 0 w I X 1 4 HI 5 g. m z n H l F O i Patented May 21, 1935 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHECK VALVE OPERATING DEVICE Ellis L. Rowe, Round Lake, and Stanley Taylor, Cohoes, N. Y., assignors to Rensselaer Valve gompany, Cohoes, N. Y., a corporation of New ork Application September 14, 1934, Serial No. 743,954

15 Claims. (Cl. 137139) Check valves which comprise a gate which is into operative engagement and for actuating the movable to closed and open positions are adapted power operated means to complete the movement for use in conduits for conducting fluids and par of the gate to a predetermined open position ticularly in installations designed for water supclear of the flow.

ply systems. Ordinarily the gate of the check Further objects of our invention will appear in 5 valve is operated by liquid flowing through the the specification and the objects thereof will be pipe line. When so operated, however, there is more particularly pointed out in the claims.

necessarily a difference in pressure on opposite Our present invention is an improvement over sides of the gate with a resulting loss of head in that shown in our application Serial No; 649,338,

the pipe line. A further difiiculty incident to the filed December 29, 1932. 10 operation of check valves of the foregoing char- Our invention will best be understood by refacter is that the gate is not closed quickly enough erence to the accompanying drawings in which to prevent the back surge in the line from caus- We have illustrated a preferred embodiment ing the gate to slam violently which frequently thereof and in whichresults in breakage of the gate of the check valve, Fig. 1 is a side view of a check valve the casing 15 or other parts thereof'and not infrequently causes of which is partially broken away and illustratdamage to the pump associated in the pipe line ing the gate and associated parts in section; with/said valve. Fig. 2 is a front elevation partially broken It has hitherto been proposed to retain a gate away and in section of the check valve removed of the foregoing character in open position by from the pipe line and the operating parts therehydraulically operated means. In that device, for; however, it was proposed that the gate be per- Fig. 3 is a side view of the check valve particumanently connected to the hydraulically operlarly illustrating the four-way valve which con ated means with the result that during the'clostrols the fluid pressure operated means and the ing operation of the gate the discharge of the parts associated with the four-way valve; water from the hydraulic cylinder served to re- Fig. 4 is a side view similar to Fig. 3 illustrattard the movement of the gate toward the closed g t fluid pressure p d d v for position thereby producing one of the difficulties ing the gate to open position, the four-way valve above referred to. which controls the same being omitted;

One of the objects of our invention is the pro- Fig. 5 is a side elevation partially in section vision of power operated means and preferably of the four-way valve which controls the presfluid pressure operated means for moving the sure operated device; gate from a partially open position to an open Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of Fig. position clear of the flow of fluid therethrough, 5, partially in section to illustrate one of the the parts being so constructed and arranged that ports; the gate is disconnected from the power operated Fig. 7 is a front view of a plate or dutchman means when it has been moved to the open posiwhich is interposed between the casing of the tion. four-way valve and the cylinder and forming a Means are also provided for retaining the gate part of a four-way valve; of the check valve in open position, said means Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side view of the oppopreferably being operative to release said gate site side of the check valve casing from that illusin response to a failure of the source of supply trated in Fig. 1 and illustrating means-for reto which the motor for driving a pump, disposed taining the gate in open position and means for in the pipe line with our valve, is connected. returning the same to clo d Position;

4,5 With this construction, substantially no loss of Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view somewhat similar head occurs in the check valve when the pump is to Fig. 8 illustrating the holding means for the in service. Furthermore, means independent of gate in operative position. the power operated means are also provided for Fig. 10 is a section taken along the'line |0-l0 returning the gate when released to closed posiof Fig. 5; and

60 tion. 11 is a wiring diagram of electrical con- A further object of our invention is the pronections. vision of means responsive to the initial move- Like reference characters indicate like parts ment of the gate from closed position for bringthroughout the drawings. ing the connection between the gate and the Referring to the drawings and first to Figs. 1

' movable member of the power operated means and 2, I 0 is the casing of a check valve having an inlet II and an outlet I2 which in the embodiment illustrated is larger than the inlet, the valve casing thus serving as an increaser. Obviously the inlet and outlet openings of the valve may be of the same size or difierent sizes depending upon the design of the pipe line in which it is to be interposed. The valve casing is provided with a seat I3 preferably formed of bronze and which may conveniently be secured to the body of the valve casing by screw threads I3I. The gate I4 of the valve is preferably circular in form and is supported on a hinge I5 which is in turn secured by means of a key IE to a shaft I'I extending through and preferably journaled in brass bearings (not illustrated) disposed in the 'walls of the valve casing as best shown in Fig. 2.

While we have illustrated a single hinge, it will be understood that a plurality of hinges may be used, and this latter feature may sometimes be desirable particularly in the larger sizes of valves. The valve casing is provided with packing glands, not illustrated, which are disposed in the opposite side walls thereof and which also serve as bearings for the shaft I! which extends therethrough. Suitable packing nuts render the glands fluid tight. An increaser unit having an outlet larger than the inlet is commonly employed in pumping stations in addition to the check valve. By combining the increaser unit integrally with the check valve valuable space is saved. Increasing the outlet as compared with the inlet decreases eddy currents and permits the fluid to flow more freely and easily. I

The hinge I5 is preferably provided with a clamping device comprising two jaws I8 which extend laterally from the cylindrical portion of the hinge surrounding the shaft I'I. Tap bolts I9 passing through the jaws serve to clamp the cylindrical portion of the hinge about the shaft and prevent relative movement between the two. Soft metal shims 20 are preferably disposed between the :iaws I8. The foregoing construction permits the easy removal of the shaft through the stuffing box when it is desired to dismantle the valve.- The hinge I5 is preferably provided with a lug 2| and with strengthening ribs 22. The gate I4 is provided with two lugs 23 and 24 (see Fig. 2) below the middle portion thereof, said lugs being provided with openings which register with an opening 25 in the rounded end of the hinge I5 and through which a. pin or shaft 26 may be inserted thereby pivotally securing the gate I4 to the lower end of the hinge I5. The lower portion of the hinge is preferably curved as illustrated and lies within a concave portion of the gate so that the gate may swing or pivot about the lower portion of the hinge. In order to limit such pivotal movement of the gate away from its hinge, we have provided the gate with lugs 21 and 28 which lie on opposite sides of the lug 2| of the hinge I5. Openings in lugs 21 and 28 register with an opening 29 in the lug 2| of the hinge I5. The opening 29, however, preferably has a diameter somewhat greater than the diameter of the pin 30 which extends through the openings in the lugs 21 and 28 and through the opening 29. It is tote understood, however, that the pin 30 may form adriving fit with the opening 29 in the lug 2| and the diameter of the openings in the lugs 21 and 28 may exceed the diameter of the pin 30 in which case the lugs 21 and 28 of the gate would move relative to said pin whereas in the first case lug 2| of the hinge would move relative to the pin. In either case relative movement of the hinge and the gate is permitted.

The method employed in mounting the gate I4 with respect .to the hinge I5 must necessarily be accurate in order that the gate be accurately positioned against its seat and in order to insure this result under all normal operating conditions the gate and its hinge are designed and assembled to provide relative move ment therebetween. The method which we have used and find to be very accurate is as follows; the gate I4 is first pivotally secured as hereinbefore described to the lower portion of the hinge I 5 and the two elements are then operatively disposed within the valve casing, .the hinge I 5 being pivotally mounted by means of the shaft I1 and the gate I4 pivotally mounted with respect to the hinge I5. The gate I 41s then manually seated in its closed position, that is to say, the face I 4| thereon preferably formed of bronze is brought against the bronze seat I 3, the seat preferably being slightly inclined for example at an' angle of 5 degrees with respect to the vertical axis of the valve. The gate I4 being accurately positioned against its seat, the lug 2| of the hinge I5 which has been left blank, is then scribed in any suitable manner, the opening through the lug 21 or 28 being used as a guide. The lug 2| is then drilled to provide an opening therein slightly larger in diameter than the openings in the lugs 21 and 28 or the pin 30 which is adapted to extend through the opening 29 of the lug 2|. We have thus provided a method for assembling the gate and hinge therefor and placing the same in operative position within the valve casing whereby the gate is properly and accurately positioned with respect to both the seat and the hinge.

In accordance with our invention, after an initial movement of the gate, power means preferably in the form of a fluid pressure operated device are provided for completing the movement of the gate to full open position. Referring particularly to Fig. 4, a cylinder 3| is mounted on the valve casing and is provided with a piston 32 the upper end of the stem 33 of which is provided with a laterally extending plate or head 34 which engages, when the gate has been initially moved, a roller 35 on the end of an arm 36 which is secured to the shaft II. The stem is also preferably provided with a laterally extending arm 31 on the end of which is mounted a roller 38 engaging a guide bar or rail 39 secured to the valve casing to prevent bending strains from being imposed uponthe piston.

The fluid pressure for operating the piston 32 is preferably supplied from the pipe line. A pipe 40 communicates with the valve casing on the down stream side of the gate as indicated in Fig: 3, the flow of water through the pipe being controlled by a manually operated valve 4 I. The pipe 40 is connected to a port 42 in the casing 43 of a four-way valve (see Figs. 3 and 5) which is indicated generally at A and which controls the flow of fluid to and from the operating cylinder. The casing has a generally. cylindrical bore 44 but provided with annular grooves or recesses 45, 46, 41, 48 and 49 on the interior thereof. A generally cylindrical piston 50 is received in the bore 44 axially spaced portions of the piston being cut away at 442, 443 and 444 as indicated in Fig. 5 and as best shown in Fig. 10. The four-way valve casing is provided with-ports 5| and 52 (see Fig. 6) which communicate with the grooves 46 ports 53 and 54, respectively, 'with which an intermediate plate or dutchman 55 is provided. The plate 55 is mounted between the casing of the four-way valve A and the hydraulic cylinder 3| as best indicated in Fig. 2, the plate 55 being secured to a flange 3 formed on the cylinder 3| by tap bolts 3 l2 passing through a flange 43| with which the four-way valve casing is provided and through the plate 55 into the flange 3 of the cylinder 3|, additional tap bolts 3|3 (see Fig. 3) passing through the plate into the flange 3. The piston 50 is normally held in the depressed position-illustrated in Fig. 5 by a coil spring 56 which is interposed between a nut or collar 51 on the piston 50 and the upper wall of the valve casing. The upper contracted end I of the stem or piston is pivotally connected as at 58 to an arm 59 which is in turn pivotally connected as at 60 to an arm or bracket 6| pivotally connected at 62 to the casing of the four-way valve. The free end of the arm 59 is preferably provided with a roller 63.

The ports 53 and 54 of the plate 55 communicate with passages 64 and 65 respectively with which the plate 55 is provided, the lower end of the passage 64 communicating with a port in the lower end of the operatingcylinder 3| while the upper end of the passage 65 communicates with a port in the upper end thereof. By connecting the operating cylinder to the check valve on the. down stream side of the gate, pressure is always available for operating the piston of the hydraulic cylinder to move the gate of the check valve to a position clear of the flow of fluid therethrough.

In the embodiment of our invention illustrated, the piston or stem 50 (see Figs. 3 and 5) is actuated by a cam 66 attached to and preferably integral with a collar 66| secured to the shaft I! as best shownin Fig. 3 and which is preferably in the form of a quadrant. One end of the cam is provided with a lug 61 which forms with the segment a recess 68 in which is received, during a portion of the cycle of operation, the roller 63 on the end of the arm 59.

On the opposite end of the shaft I1 is mounted an arm 69 (see Fig. 8) to the end of which is connected one end of a coil spring 10 the opposite end of which is connected to an adjustable eyebolt II. A member 12 provided with a notch 13 is also mounted on the same end of the shaft as the arm 69 and cooperates with a latch I4 mounted on an arm I5 which is pivoted as. at 16 on the casing.

The arm 15 is actuated by a solenoid TI suitably mounted on the check valve casing and provided with a plunger 18, a stem 19 attached to-the lower end of said plunger passing through the arm I5 and a coil spring being interposed between the arm and anadjusting nut or nuts 8| on the lower end of the stem I9. The upper end of the plung er is provided with a weight 82 suitably attached to the plunger I8. When the gate is moved to the complete open position, assuming that the solenoid I1 is energized, the notch 13 onthe member 12 is brought to a position where it may be engaged by the latch I4 which is forced into the notch by the upward movement of the spring 80 which is connected to the plunger and which engages the end'of the arm I5. The plunger is also provided with a member 83 which engages the upper side of the arm I5.

Fig. 11 illustrates one manner of electrically connecting the solenoid 11, associated with the valve controlling mechanism, in circuit with an electric motor,.indicated at 98, which serves to drive a pump in the pipe line in which our valve is interposed.

The operation of the device embodying our invention is as follows: when the gate is in the closed position illustrated in Fig. 1, the cam or quadrant 66 is in the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 3, the arm 59 being in its lowered position and the piston of the four-way valve in the position illustrated in Fig. 5 At the same time the arm 36 mounted on the shaft I1 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 4 with the roller 35 which is mounted at the end of the arm out of the path of movement of the plate 34 mounted on the upper end of the piston stem 33. The arm 69 which moves the gate to closed position is in the position illustrated in Fig. 8. When the pump or other means causes liquid to flow through the pipe line, the gate is moved from its closed position illustrated in Fig. 1 through a small angle against the action of the spring Ill. The initial movement of the gate and the corresponding rotation of the shaft II causes the arm 36 to be moved from the position illustrated in Fig. 4 to a position where the roller 35 is in the path of movement of the plate 34 on the upper endof the piston stem 33. Furthermore, the initial movement of the gate and of the shaft l1 causes the cam 66 to lift the arm 59 to the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 3 thereby lifting the piston or stem59 of the four-way valve. The

lifting of the piston causes the cut-away portion 442 of the piston to connect the grooves 46 and 4! thereby causing fluid under pressure to flow from the valve casing through pipe 40, port 42, groove 41 through the recessed portion 442 to the groove or recess 46, port 5|, port 53 through the passage 64 to the port at the lower end of the cylinder 3|. At the same time the upper end of the cylinder is connected through a port to the passage 65 and port 54 to the groove or recess 48 and through the cut-away portion 443 of the stem to a passage 84 and to the exhaust port 85. The upward movement of the piston and the plate 34 which is mounted on the upper end of the piston stem rotates the arm 36 and the shaft thereby completing the movement of the gate to a predetermined open position clear of the flowof fluid therethrough. In moving to the position illustrated in Fig. 4 the plate 34 on the piston stem moves past the arm 36 thereby disconnecting the gate from the fluid pressure operated means whereby the gate, so far as said fluid pressure operated means is concerned, is free to return to its closed position independently thereof. The rotation of the shaft I rotates the member I2 to a position where the latch I4 on the arm I5 may engage the notch 13 formed inthe member I2, and as the solenoid is at this time energized, the latch I4 is moved into and retained within the recess and the gate thereby held in a position to permit a free flow of liquid past the gate without loss of head. It will be understood that the solenoid 11 remains energized while the gate of the check valve is in open position and liquid is forced through the pipe line by a pump driven by an electric motor. The solenoid may conveniently be connected in circuit with the pump motor so that when the circuit to the moto return the gate quickly to its closed position.-

It is evident that as the gate is "at this time disconnected from the fluid pressure operated means, the latter does not interfere with the return of the gate. When the gate is returned to closed position, the lug 61 on the cam 66 returns the arm 59 to the full line position indicated in Fig. 3 thereby connecting the supply port 42 to the upper end of the cylinder through groove 47,

groove 48, port 52, port 54 and thence through passage 65 to the upper end of the cylinder. At the same time the port 5| which communicates with the lower end of the cylinder is connected by means of the passages 444 to the passage 84 and thus to the exhaust port 85.

Although we have illustrated and described our check valve operating means in conjunction with a preferred form of check valve comprising a specific form of gate assembly, it is to be understood that any form of check valve may be employed. Hence, in the claims, the term gate is used to denote gate assemblies in general whether they comprise a plurality of cooperating elements or not.

While we have described our invention in its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the words which We have used are words of description and not of limitation. Hence, changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of our invention in its broader aspects.

What we claim is:

1. In combination, a check valve adapted to be interposed in a pipe line and comprising a pivotally mounted gate movable from closed to open position, power operated means operable after an initial movement of sad gate from closed position for completing the mnovement thereof to open position, said power operated means being operatively disconnected from said gate when the latter is in open position.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 together with means for retaining said gate in open position.

3. In combination, a check valve adapted to be fitted into a pipe line and comprising a pivotally mounted gate movable from closed to open position, power operated means operable after an initial movement of said gate from closed position for completing the movement thereof to open position, said power'operated means being operatively disconnected from said gate when the latter is in open position, means for retaining said gate in open position, and means independent of said power operated means for moving said gate when released to closed position.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 together with means responsive to the movement of said gate to closed position for returning said power operated means to its initial position.

5. In combination, a check valve adapted to befitted into a pipe line and compris'ng a pivotally mounted gate movable from closed to open position, fluid pressure operated means operatively connected to said gate after an initial movement thereof from closed position for completing the movement thereof to open position, means for retaining said gate in open position and means independent of said power operated means for returning said gate to closed position.

6. In combination, a check valve adapted to be interposed in a pipe line and comprising a pivotally mounted gate movable from closed to open position, fluid pressure operated means operatively connected to said gate after an initial movement thereof from closed position for completing the movement thereof to open position, means for retaining said gate in open position, means independent of said power operated means for returning said gate to closed position, and means governed by the movement of said gate for controlling the operation of said fluid pressure operated means.

7. In combination, a check valve adapted to be fitted into a pipe line and comprising a pivotally mounted gate movable through a predetermined arc from closed to open position, fluid pressure operated,means operatively connected to said gate after an initial movement thereof from closed position for completing the movement thereof to open position, means for retaining said gate in open position, means independent of said power operated means for returning said gate to closed position, and valve means governed by the movement of said gate for controlling the operation of said fluid pressure operated means.

8. In combination, a check valve adapted to be fitted into a pipe line and comprising a pivotally mounted gate movable from closed to open position, a shaft on which said gate is mounted having its bearings in the casing of said valve an arm mounted on said shaft and power operated means comprising a movable member engageable with said arm after an initial movement of said gate for completing the movement of said gate to open position.

9. In combination, a check valve adapted to be fitted into a pipe line and comprising a pivotally mounted gate movable from closed to open position, a shaft on which said gate is mounted having its bearings in the casing of said valve, an

'arm mounted on said shaft, power operated means comprising a movable member engageable With said arm after an initial movement of said gate for completing the movement thereof to open position, and means for returning the gate to closed position.

10. In combination, a check valve adapted to be fitted into a pipe line and comprising a pivotally mounted gate movable from closed to open position, a shaft on which said gate is mounted having its bearings in the casing of said valve, a first arm mounted on said shaft, power operated means comprising a movable member engageable with said arm after an initial movement of said gate for completing the movement thereof to open position, a second arm mounted upon said shaft and means associated with said second arm for returning said gate to closed position.

i 11. In combination, a check valve adapted to be fitted into a pipe line and comprising a pivotally mounted gate movable from closed to open position, a shaft on which said gate is mounted and supported, an arm mounted on said shaft, power operated means comprising a movable member for moving said arm and thereby actuating said gate, said arm initially being out of the path of movement of said member and an initial movement of said gate moving said arm into the path of movement of said movable member, means responsive to an initial movement of said gate for actuating said power operated means, said gate being disconnected from said movable member when said gate has been moved to open position, and means independent of said fluid pressure operated means for returning said gate to closed position.

.12; In combination, a check valve adapted to I sition, a shaft on which said gate is mounted, an arm mounted on said shaft, power operated means omprising a movable member for moving said arm and thereby actuating said gate, said arm initially being out of the path of movement of said member and an initial movement of said gate moving said arm into the path of movement of said movable member, means responsive to an initial movement of said gate for actuating said power operated means, said gate being disconnected from said movable member when said gate has been moved to open position, and means for retaining said gate in open position.

13. In combination, a check valve adapted to be fitted into a pipe line and comprising a pivotally mounted gate movable from closed to open position, a shaft on which said gate is mounted, an arm mounted on said shaft, power operated means comprising amovable member for moving said arm and'thereby actuating said gate, said arm initially being out of. the path of movement of said member and an initial movement of said gate moving said arm into the path of movement of said movable member, means responsive to an initial movement of said gate for actuating said power operated means, said gate being disconnected from said movable member when said gate has been moved to open position, means for retaining said gate in open position, and means independent of said power operated means for returning said gate to closed position.

14. In combination, a check valve adapted to be fitted into a pipe line and comprising a pivotally mounted gate movable upwardly from closed to open position, fluid pressure operated means for moving said gate, valve means for controlling the supply of fluid under pressure to said fluid pressure operated means, means responsive to an initial movement of said gate from closed towardsopen position foractuating saidvalvemeans to admit fluid .under pressure to said fluid pressure operated means to complete the movement of said gate to open position, means whereby said gate is operatively disconnected from said fluid pressure operated means when the movement of said gate to open position is completed, means for retaining said gate in open position, and means independent of said fluid pressure operated means for returning said gate to closed position.

15. In combination, a check valve adapted to be fitted into a pipe line and comprising a pivotally mounted gate movable upwardly. from closed to open position, fluid pressure operated means comprising a movable member, valve means for controlling the admission of fluid under pressure to said fluid pressure operated means, means responsive to an initial movement of said gate from closed position for operatively connecting said movable member to said gate and for admitting fluid under pressure to said fluid pressure operated means and thereby completing the movement of saidgate to open position, meansfor retaining said gate in open position and means independent of said fluid pressure operated means for returning said gate when released to closed position.

ELLIS L. ROWE. STANLEY TAYLOR. 

